An acoustic solution

SAS International’s System 600 acoustic lighting rafts provide a distinctive and stylish ceiling solution for Eircom’s new headquarters building in Dublin. The rafts, which feature in the main offices areas, integrate lighting and electrical services along with providing excellent acoustic benefits.

Working closely with Anthony Reddy Associates Architects on the distinctive nine-storey development, SAS International developed and produced a raft design that fitted within the building’s elliptical pre-cast concrete ceiling coffers. The architects chose to work with SAS International due to their design support and flexibility in developing a solution which fitted their exact specifications and needs.

Brian O’Neill, ARA, director in charge of the project, commented: “The completion of the building represents a considerable milestone for Eircom, the Design Team and the ARA Team who have been working on the project since its inception in 2000. The building is a culmination of an integrated approach by the designers and the client to achieve a sustainable design.”

As this office development features considerable use of open plan space and an exposed soffit, suspended SAS International rafts were an ideal choice as they maximise the exposed area of concrete. The exposed soffit allows for the thermal mass to be exploited however acoustics are a particular concern in these situations as the concrete coffers can potentially reflect and reverberate sound.

The narrow raft panels primarily support the luminaires, house smoke detectors and PIR sensors and provide acoustic absorption. Factory-fitted with infill panels, the rafts absorb sound through a perforated panel face, but also from the rear by absorbing indirect sound reflected within the concrete coffer. This effectively doubles the sound absorbing area within the space.

The building has been designed using a layout of 15m deep office plates on each side of a central atrium spine. The planners requested maximum transparency across the building as a trade off for allowing two originally permitted buildings, to be joined together to achieve Eircom’s requirement for an office building which could accommodate 1800 staff.

SAS International’s clip-in metal System 150 ceiling tiles also feature in central areas such as lifts, stairs, toilets and tea stations. These tiles provide a durable and flexible solution which are easy to clean and can provide hinge-down access to the ceiling void.